AIA News

ISLAMABAD (AIA) President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday called for enhancing women’s financial autonomy and improving their access to financial services and credit to encourage female entrepreneurs.

During a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr with Bill Winters, the Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), and his delegation, President Zardari emphasized that economically empowering women would not only strengthen them financially but also uplift their families and contribute to the national economy.

He urged banks to support women entrepreneurs and to increase female representation within the banking sector.

The SCB delegation briefed the president on the bank’s contributions to Pakistan’s economy, including the development and evolution of the banking industry and the socio-economic developments of the country.

Welcoming the delegation, President Zardari highlighted the steps Pakistan had taken to protect the environment and promote forestation. He mentioned that the Sindh government had planted mangrove forests, generating millions of dollars by trading carbon credits on the international market.

The president suggested investing in the climate sector to protect the environment. He also called for investments in the agricultural sector and the financing of infrastructure projects, especially small dams, barrages, and power plants.

Additionally, he emphasized the need for banks to extend financial services and loans to farmers to increase their access to agricultural inputs.

The president congratulated the bank on completing 160 years of successful operations in the subcontinent.